Stephen Posey, chief executive officer at Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the Trust was "delighted" to received the royal honour.

"The royal title is a fitting tribute to the many talented, committed staff members who have made Papworth what it is today, and I hope it will inspire more people to join us and be part of our future," he said.

"We have a busy year ahead as we prepare to move into our new hospital and we look forward to celebrating this news properly as part of our centenary celebrations in 2018."

The hospital's move to the Biomedical Campus in September 2018 will see it become the most advanced cardiothoracic hospital in Europe.

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The new location will place it alongside Cambridge University Hospitals, the University of Cambridge, AstraZeneca, The Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK and Abcam.

Papworth is famous for pioneering firsts in transplant medicine, including the world’s first successful heart, lung and liver transplant in 1986.

In 2015, Papworth doctors were the first in Europe to successfully perform a heart transplant using a non-beating heart.

The hospital has so far carried out 31 transplants using non-beating donor hearts, increasing its heart transplant rate by more than a third.

Professor John Wallwork, chairman at Papworth Hospital Foundation Trust, said: "As a surgeon who worked at Papworth for more than 30 years, I am thrilled to see the hospital get this recognition from The Queen.

"Papworth is a truly special place where we strive to deliver the treatments of tomorrow to the patients of today.

"We have big plans for our future on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and our new royal title will be a wonderful way to mark the next chapter in our story."

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Papworth Hospital has received the support of the British Royal Family throughout its history and has counted Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester as Patron since 2003.

There have been more than 20 royal visits to date, with the hospital welcoming Her Majesty The Queen to Papworth in 1962.

In June 2016, Prince Harry invited a team from Papworth to Kensington Palace to collect an Invictus Games gold medal donated by US soldier and athlete Elizabeth Marks, who credits the hospital with saving her life.

The Trust will now begin a formal process to become the Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

A ceremony to officially mark the change in name will take place next year as part of the hospital’s centenary celebrations.

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